Feeding device



Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE FEEDING DEVICE Edwin Travis, Peekskill, N. Y.

Application September 5, 1950, Serial No. 183,163

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a feeding apparatus and is an improvement over the feeding structure embodied in my prior Patent 2,254,585, issued September 2, 1941.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved feeding device for animals, such as dogs, including puppies and grown dogs of various sizes and breeds which is so constructed that the animals may readily feed without interference one from the other and without upsetting the feed trap or receptacles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which includes a detachable lower tray or receptacle adapted to receive semiliquids or liquid material which can be obtained from any one of the several compartments formed by the skeleton-like supportin structure.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a device of this kind a funnel-shaped material conducting member which is removably carried by the upper portion of the frame structure for discharging liquids or semi-liquids into the bottom or base tray.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a feeding device constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a, fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral designates generally a skeleton-like cage or frame structure which is formed of a plurality of circumferentially spaced upright bars ll connected at the lower ends to a lower ring I2 and connected at their upper ends to an upper ring I3. The upright bars ll include upwardly and inwardly directed extensions M which are secured at their inner ends to an upper funnel supporting ring [5.

A plurality of vertically disposed star-shaped members generally designated as 16 are disposed Within the frame structure I0, and each starshaped member [6 is formed of a single strand of wire having connected together inwardly curved bars [1 as shown in Figure 2. The points of the star-shaped members It are connected to the uprights l l by means of radially disposed connecting bars 18, and the bars [8 with the curved bars ll form supporting means for supporting flanged sector-shaped trays or receptacles IS. A bottom tray or base generally designated as 20 is detachably secured to the frame I0 by means of resilient latching members 2| which are formed as an integral part of certain ones of the upright bars H. The latching members 2| are of substantially U-shape being formed with an oiiset 22 which is adapted to latch into a notch 23 formed in the rim or upper flange 24 of the base 20. The latching member 2i includes an upwardly projecting arm 25 which extends above the rim 24 so that the latching member 2| may be pressed inwardly to a released position. The base tray or receptacle 20 includes a bottom wall 26 which is formed with an upwardly offset cone-shaped central divider or spreader 21 and is also formed with an upwardly flared side wall 28.

A tubular feed conducting member 29 extends downwardly through the spider members l6 and has the lower end thereof positioned slightly below the apex of the spreader 21. The upper end of the tubular member 29 is formed of a flared or funnel-shaped member 30 which removably engages within the upper supporting ring 15.

In the use and operation of this device, the desired material which may be water, semi-liquid feed or the like, is discharged into the base tray 20 through the funnel 30 and the conducting tube 29. Where the material is of semi-liquid condition the spreader 21 will evenly spread the material about the bottom 26. The outwardly divergent spider supporting bars l8 form compartments 3| within selected ones of which the trays I9 may be positioned. These trays I9 may be disposed at selected heights within the frame structure I0 and may be positioned circumferentially about the skeleton frame In so that the animals in obtaining feed from the trays [9 will not a itate one another and will not disturb one another in obtaining the feed. By providing the releasable latching means for the frame Ill with respect to the base tray 29, the latter can easily and quickly be cleaned or may be filled with the desired material without discharging the material through the funnel 30.

What is claimed is:

A feeding device for puppies and grown dogs, comprising an open hollow base constituting a feed holder, an annular horizontal flange about the top of said base having a plurality of radial slots therethrough, an annular upstanding body comprising a plurality of spaced superposed starshaped wire members, a tubular member having a funnel-shaped top extending vertically within said star-shaped member to a point adjacent said r 3 holder, a plurality of vertical wire supports spaced radially of the points of said star-shaped members connecting wires extending horizontally between said supports and the points of said starshaped members, upper and lower circular rings extending about said supports, said lower ring seating in said flange, said supports overlying said flange, downwardly extending portions on certain of said supports, said portions being reverted to form resilient latch members and aligned: with. said slots for engagement therewith, and detents formed in said reverted portions for engagement with the end portions of said slots resiliently to i secure said body portion to said base in readily releasable relation.

EDWIN TRAVIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 2,254,585 Travis Sept. 2, 1941 2,520,725 Judd Aug. 29, 1950 

